Editor’s note: Bumping this up from the archives as history repeats and January’s pleasant weather has people thinking, wow, the trees are already blooming. Must be spring! Sorry folks. Does this every year. But it is lovely, no?
Still being relatively new to the area, I’m not sure if this is a result of unusual weather or unusual trees. But is anyone else noticing blossoms around the Hill lately? It is December, isn’t it?
I’ve seen them in January before.
Some trees do some kind of winter blossoming thing. Where’s Ciscoe Morris when you need him?
I noticed the same thing with this same tree late last December. I have no photo evidence of this claim, and no explanation.
could be a witch hazel – one my favorite plants! The winter garden at the arboretum has some great ones the bloom at different times in the winter
The autum flowering cherry tree. Here it’s mild enough they can boom in winter.
The autum flowering cherry tree. Here it’s mild enough they can boom in winter.
This tree is a cherry tree “autumnalis” and it’s normal bloom time is late fall and part of the winter. It’s a really nice to have something flowering at this time of year!
I swear I don’t remember cherry blossoms last January! But I have noticed this as well on my walks to work. Guess it’s normal… it’s funny how we forget climate patterns, and each year we’re surprised when something like this happens. I kinda like it though, the whole forgetting and then being surprised again thing.
Yeah, fortunately we forget enough stuff or never get to in first place that there are still plenty of surprises left on the Hill. Enjoy!
happy to be a part of this pleasant re-remembering :)
It is most likely Prunus Autumnalis–a flowering cherry that blooms intermitantly all winter.